Up the Blackstone With Mass Audubon: A Three-Part Series of Van Tours September 12, 2010

Originating as a series of streams in the hills of Worcester, the Blackstone River flows 46 miles south into Rhode Island, dropping 438 feet before emptying into the Seekonk River in Pawtucket and on to Narragansett Bay near Providence. Come explore the valley with us in Mass Audubon's van and learn about its natural, historic, and cultural resources. This season we'll start with the Rhode Island reach and work our way upriver! - - Meet at Broad Meadow Brook; refreshments and restrooms will be provided. There are a limited number of seats in the van - please register early! - - Part 1: The Rhode Island Reach- Pawtucket to Woonsocket: Slater Mill and a River Tour on the Blackstone Valley Explorer Excursion Boat - Sunday, September 12, 1:00-5:00 pm - - We'll head straight for the mouth of the Blackstone in Pawtucket and Slater Mill, the birthplace of the American industrial revolution. After viewing the excellent film at the visitor center across the street, we'll explore the first four dams on the river, which are all slated for fish ladders to restore anadromous fish populations. In Central Falls, we'll board the Blackstone Valley Explorer and learn more about the river during a 45-minute boat ride. As we make our way north, we'll visit the Captain Wilbur Kelly House Museum and the Blackstone River Bikeway in Ashton. As we head for home, we'll take in the beautiful Blackstone Gorge, one of the few sections of the Blackstone that remains in its natural condition. - - Part 2: The Mid-Reach Tributaries - Sunday, October 17, 1:00-5:00 pm - - The Mumford, West, and Mill rivers, all major tributaries in the mid-reach of the Blackstone River watershed, flow through Douglas, Sutton, Northbridge, Upton, Uxbridge, Hopedale, and Mendon. As we explore them by van, we'll learn about habitats, land uses, water quality, and restoration opportunities. Our industrial past will come alive through these historic landscapes. - - Part 3: The Headwaters - Sunday, November 14, 1:00-5:00 pm - - Explore Worcester's waterways, all of which are headwater tributaries to the Blackstone River. We'll visit Kettle Brook, Tatnuck Brook, Beaver Brook, Mill Brook, Middle River, Coal Mine Brook, and Poor Farm Brook. We'll discover how they all interconnect, the role they play in Worcester's history, and the impact of the city's history on them. - - This program series is part of the Campaign for a Fishable/Swimmable Blackstone River by 2015 and is cosponsored by the Blackstone River Coalition. Registration is required. Call 508-753-6087 for details. See http://www.massaudubon.org/catalog/listing.php?program_code=627-BM10SU1 for more information.